Apr 24, Colombo: Sri Lanka's Attorney General's Department has taken measures to strengthen its presence in the provinces as well as in the capital to ensure the progress in implementing the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC).

Accordingly, the Department has restructured its supervision system, effective from April 20, 2014, to set up units in each of the nine provinces to ensure provincial supervision.

According to the National Action Plan for monitoring the implementation of LLRC recommendations, the measure addresses the recommendation 9.212 of the LLRC Report, which instructs to "Set up units of the Attorney General's Department in the provinces to guide and advise the police regarding criminal investigations, prosecutions and other matters touching upon the criminal justice system."

Under the new system, nine additional solicitors general have been appointed to be in charge of the nine provinces. Their teams consisting of both senior and junior officers will assist them, to handle all criminal and civil matters within the provinces.

Two senior additional solicitors general will be in overall supervision of the civil and criminal divisions and will coordinate with the officers supervising the provinces.

The new system aimed at establishing a closer link between the Department and the provinces.

The additional solicitors general in charge of the province will be able to be in direct contact with the Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police of the area, the Chief Secretary and other provincial ministry secretaries in respect of all matters in which the Attorney General's guidance and supervision are required.